Rev’d Brian Swindell (30 Jun 1935 - 9 Dec 2021)

Swindell, Reverend Brian, died 9th December 2021 aged 86 at home in Gamston, Nottingham. He is survived by his wife Susannah, sons Edward William, Henry Richard, stepson John Michael, and granddaughters Roberta Charlotte and Sophia Rose.

The funeral will be 11am on 22nd December at St Luke’s, Gamston and on their social channels. Those attending in person, please be aware that the church will be very well ventilated; dress accordingly and in bright colours!

Born 30th June 1935 in South Avenue, Littleover, Derby to parents George Henry and Miriam (nee Farquhar), and brother to Joan (and their beautiful but daft Irish Setter, Caesar). The son of a butcher, son of a butcher’s son; he drove the Swindell & Son (of Green Lane, Derby) delivery van in school holidays. He was a pupil at Trent College, Long Eaton 1948-53 where (despite failing his Latin O-Level five times) he was Head of Shuker House and Deputy Head Boy.

He joined the Army as a national serviceman but extended his commitment by obtaining a commission in the Royal Artillery. On leaving the Army his father told him to ‘get a proper job’ rather than join the family business. He therefore went to the Derby Labour Exchange, not to find a job but to work there as a dole clerk. He was quickly promoted and soon became a Civil Servant in what was then called the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.

His lifelong love of the theatre led him to join Derby Shakespeare Society where he met his first wife Sheila and her son John Michael Carver. They moved to Birmingham, but Sheila died only a few years into their marriage.

Brian was a member of a team working on the revamp of Labour Exchanges and their evolution into JobCentres, this included the development of the concept and the new name.

In Birmingham Brian had found another theatre to join, The Crescent. Not only did he meet best friends there, he also met piccolo player Susannah. They shared a love for classical music and the RSPB. In 1976 they married and moved to London.

In 1979 their first son Henry Richard was born in front of an audience of medical students. At the same time the now titled Manpower Services Commission was moving its headquarters to Sheffield. Despite regular work obligations in Whitehall and Brussels, the family relocated to Sheffield. During this time Brian was proud of the contributions he made to the development of legislation that still helps those with access needs enter the workplace.

Edward William was born a Yorkshireman in 1982.

The family joined the congregation of Christ Church, Fulwood, and in 1986 Brian was called to the ministry. He trained at St John’s College, Nottingham, with a placement at Holy Rood, Edwalton, and the family joined the congregation at St Nic’s.

In 1988 Brian returned to The Diocese of Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He became curate at St Mary’s, Wombwell & St George’s, Jump, Barnsley and was ordained as a priest in the Church of England the following year. In 1991 he became Vicar of St Andrews, Brinsworth & St Mary’s, Catcliffe, Rotherham (and later Team Rector with St Helen’s, Treeton).

In 1993 he adopted his beloved, and very large, Hovawart dog, Titus.

He decided to retire in 1998 aged 63, although, he never really did retire. Brian and Soo moved to Gamston, West Bridgeford, Nottingham. He trained as a Life Coach and briefly had a column in The Saturday Times about it. He became Chaplain to the Students at St John’s theological college and an Associate Minister at St Luke’s, Gamston. He undertook a postgraduate course at Sarum College, Salisbury, and he focused his interest on the topic of Spirituality and Shakespeare.

He became a doting grandfather to Roberta Charlotte in 2017 and Sophia Rose in 2019.

He and Soo would often return to Birmingham as ‘Friends of the Birmingham Royal Ballet’.
In his later years he took up the hobby (like his father before him) of painting. His pictures adorn the walls of their home and many a Christmas card.